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Grandmother stabbed

Two persons were jailed on Tuesday following an assault incident in which police allege the suspects planned to kill the targeted victim.

State police at Lehighton identified the suspects as Jacob Gordon Wertman, 23, of Ashfield, and Amber Lynn Steigerwalt, 19, of Lehighton. The incident occurred about 8:05 p.m. on Monday at the residence of Marjorie "Marge" A. Wertman, 109 Blue Mountain Road, in Ashfield, East Penn Township.Troopers said Jacob Wertman is grandson of the victim, Marge Wertman.Troopers said that Jacob Wertman allegedly wanted to kill his grandparents so that he could take over their home in Ashfield and get their money that was set aside for him in their will. Wertman enlisted the assistance of his girlfriend, Steigerwalt.The two waited at Marge Wertman's home on Monday evening waiting for her to return home from work, police said. Jacob Wertman gave Steigerwalt a knife from the kitchen to stab the victim. He told her he was not sure he could do it because Marge Wertman had raised him when he was young.The two waited in the darkened kitchen area, troopers said. When she returned home and entered the kitchen Steigerwalt approached the victim and stabbed her in the neck with a paring knife. The second suspect fled the scene.The police report did not indicate whether the victim required medical attention or how serious she was injured. Reportedly, she did sustain a serious injury. Police did not indicate if the victim's husband was at home at the time.Troopers said the two suspects were each charged with aggravated assault with serious injury, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and two counts of simple assault.The two were arraigned before District Judge Edward Lewis, of Jim Thorpe, and committed to the county prison in Nesquehoning, in lieu of $300,000 straight cash bail each.

ANDREW LEIBENGUTH/TIMES NEWS The Ashfield house, 109 Blue Mountain Road, where a grandmother was stabbed in the neck.